Washington State House Democratshttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov
Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:35:33 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.2Walkinshaw’s opioid antagonist bill clears Househttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/brady-walkinshaw/walkinshaws-opioid-antagonist-bill-clears-house/
http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/brady-walkinshaw/walkinshaws-opioid-antagonist-bill-clears-house/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 19:35:33 +0000Rep. Brady Walkinshawhttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/?p=15012OLYMPIA – Lawmakers in Olympia passed a bill on Monday that would allow third party providers to have opioid antagonists on hand to help reverse the effect of a heroin overdose.

“We are seeing a very concerning uptick in heroin use and overdoses around the entire state,” said Walkinshaw. “This bill will allow first responders, community providers, and family members to have life-saving drugs on hand for someone experiencing a heroin overdose. In short, this bill will save lives.”

“This idea was brought to me by a constituent with family members who have struggled with heroin addiction. It further demonstrates how everyone can and should be a part of the democratic process to make their communities better,” said Walkinshaw.

Under current law, access to heroin overdose drugs like Narcan is restricted to licensed health care professionals and those with prescriptions. Walkinshaw’s bill will expand access to those that interact with heroin users on a regular basis, like first responders, homeless shelters, and family members.

The bill passed out of the House of Representatives 96-1. It now goes to the Senate for further consideration.

]]>http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/brady-walkinshaw/walkinshaws-opioid-antagonist-bill-clears-house/feed/0UPDATE: Today’s House vote on Minimum Wage bill likely at 2 p.m. instead of 4http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/media-advisory-minimum-wage-bill-up-for-a-vote-on-the-floor-tomorrow-march-3/
http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/media-advisory-minimum-wage-bill-up-for-a-vote-on-the-floor-tomorrow-march-3/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:11:01 +0000Washington House Democratshttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/?p=14994The House of Representatives will consider the minimum wage bill, as well as other middle-class prosperity bills today starting at 2 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. as previously announced.

The House Rules room will be open to members of the media and stakeholders at 2 p.m.

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The House of Representatives will debate House Bill 1355 as well as other middle-class prosperity bills on the Floor this afternoon.

HB 1355, sponsored by Rep. Jessyn Farrell (D-Seattle) and backed by 40 other lawmakers, would increase the minimum wage, currently of $9.47 per hour, to $12 over the course of four years, starting in 2016.

Supporters of the measure say that while raising the minimum wage won’t end poverty in the state, it will benefit more than half a million workers and will bring greater equity into the labor market.

For a person working full-time earning $10 an hour, an increase to $12 would mean an extra $347 per month to spend on rent, food or utilities.

The House Rules room will be open to members of the media and stakeholders at 2 p.m. where they will be able to ask questions and get comments from legislators and workers before or after the vote.

The other middle-class prosperity bills that may be voted on this afternoon are Paid Sick and Safe Leave (HB 1356) and Worker Anti-Retaliation (HB 1354)

House Bill 2160would provide for civil liability against any person who intentionally and without consent distributes an intimate image of another person.

“People are very seriously harmed when they become victims of revenge porn,” said Rep. Sharon Wylie (D-Vancouver), the bill’s prime sponsor. “Images on the Internet can live forever. They can affect somebody’s livelihood, their relationships, their families, and it’s not right.”

“Revenge porn” is the term commonly used to describe the practice of posting private, intimate images of another person on the Internet without their authorization, usually with the intent of humiliating or inflicting damage. While these images are often taken with the person’s consent, that does not mean they have also consented to their distribution.

Under Wylie’s bill, a person is liable for distributing an intimate image of another intentionally and without consent when:

The image was entrusted by another person, in the understanding that it should remain private, and its reckless or intentional distribution causes the person pictured emotional distress; or

The image was knowingly obtained without authorization or by exceeding authorized access from the other person’s property, accounts, messages, files, or resources.

Wylie’s bill establishes that anyone who distributes an intimate image of another is liable for up to $10,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorneys’ fees, and costs. The court may also award injunctive relief as it deems necessary.

“There are so many things that as legislators we can’t do anything about, but this is a bill that allows us to take a small step forward in the interest of fairness and justice,” added Wylie.

In her floor speech, Rep. Wylie recognized her colleague, Rep. Tina Orwall for her invaluable work on HB 2160, and she also commended Rep. Vincent Buys (R-Lynden) sponsor of HB 1272, which creates the crime of disclosing intimate images as a class C felony. Wylie expects Buys’ measure will come to the House Floor for a vote later this week.

]]>http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/the-daily-eclips/tuesday-march-3/feed/0House Approves Rep. Moeller Bills to Correct Technical Issues for Married Coupleshttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/jim-moeller/house-approves-rep-moeller-bills-to-correct-technical-issues-for-married-couples/
http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/jim-moeller/house-approves-rep-moeller-bills-to-correct-technical-issues-for-married-couples/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 17:15:35 +0000Rep. Jim Moellerhttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/?p=15001OLYMPIA – Three years ago, the Washington State Legislature passed legislation to recognize same-sex marriage. However, there still exist obsolete or antiquated laws that don’t properly address same-sex marriages and state departments require clarity on how they should be handled, such as retirement accounts for state employees and their spouses. In addition, there are laws that don’t reflect recent changes in society, such as issues involving which spouse changes their name after getting married. State Representative Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, sponsored several bills to address these issues in the forms of HB 1034 and HB 1036. Both bills passed the House yesterday evening and will be sent to the Senate for its consideration.

“Marriage is a commitment between two people, but sometimes government gets in the way,” said Rep. Moeller. “These bills are meant to provide everyone the same equal access to marriage and all the benefits that come with it, whether it be something as simple as changing your last name, or receiving timely benefits in the event of a spouse passing away. I’m proud that the House stood up for equality for everyone.”

Currently, only brides are allowed to change their surname’s using a marriage certificate, while grooms must go through the courts to make the change. HB 1034 authorizes a process for surname changes for grooms to use a marriage certificate.

After same-sex marriage was legalized in Washington, previously registered domestic partnerships were converted to marriages after a certain amount of time. Unfortunately, the statute didn’t specify that these new marriages qualified for survivor status for Public Employees’ Retirement System Plans without waiting a year. HB 1036 corrects that technical error, allowing same-sex partners who were previously registered domestic partners to designate themselves a survivor beneficiary in the event of a partner’s death without requiring a year long wait.

]]>http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/jim-moeller/house-approves-rep-moeller-bills-to-correct-technical-issues-for-married-couples/feed/0Protecting all students from restraint and isolationhttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/gerry-pollet/protecting-all-students-from-restraint-and-isolation/
http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/gerry-pollet/protecting-all-students-from-restraint-and-isolation/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 01:48:41 +0000Rep. Gerry Pollethttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/?p=14998OLYMPIA – The House of Representatives passed House Bill 1240 today to ensure that no child be regularly restrained or forcibly put into isolation at school as a matter of planned routine. Thousands of students in Washington state have been issued special education plans that include an expectation that the school will use physical restraints, which can include teachers laying on top of students, physical restraining devices, chokeholds, and isolation rooms.

“Every child in the state of Washington should be able to go to school every day without fear of being harmed,” Pollet said. “The unfortunate reality is that too many students in special education programs fear having their behavior corrected with the use of restraints and isolation. We can do better. An education plan should emphasize positive interventions that are proven to work.”

House Bill 1240, sponsored by Rep. Gerry Pollet, passed today 68-29 with bipartisan support. The measure would end the planned use of restraint and isolation as a part of the individualized education plans created for students with special needs.

Additionally, the bill would protect all students from restraint and isolation except in very limited circumstances where the imminent risk of harm is unforeseeable.

Recent information reveals that restraints and seclusion in schools pose a significant risk of injury, and even death, to children. A Harvard study estimates that school restraints cause up to 150 deaths each year. Even when physical injury does not result, restraint and isolation, especially over a period of time, are detrimental to a student’s mental well-being, behavior and educational outcomes.

One Washington school district used restraints and isolation over 1,800 times last year. Another similar-sized district with a similar student population trained its staff to use alternative methods to calm students. That district reduced use of isolation or restraint to one-fifth of the number of times compared to the other district which used isolation and restraint over 300 times a month.

House Education Committee Chair Sharon Tomiko Santos discussed on Floor passage how this bill will help the state to improve training for teachers and special education para-educators. All students deserve respectful treatment and the opportunity for a safe and effective education.

Rep. Pollet worked with special education parents, educators, Childrens’ Hospital Autism Center, school administrators in developing the bill, which now goes to the State Senate.

]]>http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/gerry-pollet/protecting-all-students-from-restraint-and-isolation/feed/0House passes Orwall bill to ensure all rape kits get testedhttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/house-passes-orwall-bill-to-ensure-all-rape-kits-get-tested/
http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/house-passes-orwall-bill-to-ensure-all-rape-kits-get-tested/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 01:19:34 +0000Rep. Tina Orwallhttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/?p=14997This morning, on a vote of 82-15, the House of Representative passed House Bill 1068, requiring law enforcement agencies to submit all sexual assault examination kits to the Washington state patrol crime laboratory for testing. It also creates a workgroup to study the issue of untested kits and review best practices for how to respond to victims of sexual assault.

“This is a bill about justice for all and about protecting women and children,” said Rep. Tina Orwall, the bill’s prime sponsor. “Victims endure horrific trauma when they are sexually assaulted and going through the evidence collection process is also traumatic. This bill ensures their voices are heard and their ordeal, as well as their willingness to collaborate with law enforcement, are validated by ensuring the rape kits are tested.”

Orwall began working on a bill after touring evidence rooms over last year’s summer, learning about rape kits and the fact that many of them were not tested. When a KING 5 investigation report last November revealed that only 365 of the 1,641 rape kits booked into evidence by the Seattle Police Department (SPD) were actually tested, the Des Moines Democrat saw more grounds to continue drafting legislation addressing the issue.

In January, SPD announced it will test all rape kits not only going forward, but also the 1,276 untested kits in its backlog of ten years.

“I commend the Seattle Police Department for taking the initiative, but I truly feel this should be the norm across the state,” Orwall said. “This bill is about justice. What we’re learning from other states, such as Ohio, Texas and Michigan is that by testing all kits they see patterns of serial rapists. In Ohio alone they’ve arrested 229 serial rapists thanks to testing every kit.”

When a suspect’s DNA is the result of testing a rape kit, it is entered into the Combined DNA Index System FBI database and, if a match is found, it can help in identifying a serial rapist. Orwall said that’s the main reason for her legislation, since testing all kits will result in linking the cases to the offenders, which will help in getting them behind bars.

“We know these serial criminals often commit 7 to 11 rapes before they are actually arrested and put in prison, so we want to get them off the street sooner,” Orwall added.

House Bill 1068 now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

]]>http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/house-passes-orwall-bill-to-ensure-all-rape-kits-get-tested/feed/0Walkinshaw opportunity restoration bill clears the Househttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/brady-walkinshaw/walkinshaw-opportunity-restoration-bill-clears-the-house/
http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/brady-walkinshaw/walkinshaw-opportunity-restoration-bill-clears-the-house/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 00:37:04 +0000Rep. Brady Walkinshawhttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/?p=14995OLYMPIA – More than 7,000 people will finish their prison sentences and return to the community this year in Washington state. Unfortunately, too many of those people will return to prison in large part due to the lack of opportunity once they leave the corrections system.

Rep. Brady Walkinshaw (D-Seattle) has a bill that passed the House of Representatives unanimously today: 97-0. The bill restores opportunities for some of those offenders giving them a better chance to turn their lives around.

“Too many former inmates end up back in prison due to unnecessary lifelong punishments that prevent them from getting jobs or an education,” said Walkinshaw. “If you commit a crime, you should do the time. But once that sentence is fully served, the state shouldn’t create barriers to getting those lives turned around. We need to embrace programs that provide opportunities for former inmates, in good standing with the courts, to become contributing members of society.”

HB 1553 would create a Certificate for Restoration of Opportunity Program for certain inmates leaving jails and prisons. The certificate would act as a receipt that proves a person has fulfilled the conditions of a sentence or is in substantial compliance with paying off fines and fees.

“This bill will ultimately save taxpayer dollars by reducing the number of returning inmates. If you are for fiscal responsibility, you should support this bill,” Walkinshaw added.

The proposal has reasonable protections in place to ensure those convicted of sex crimes would not be eligible. The legislation does not restore gun rights.

The bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration.

]]>http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/brady-walkinshaw/walkinshaw-opportunity-restoration-bill-clears-the-house/feed/0Rep. Gregory’s inaugural legislation helps Washington teachers learn new specialtieshttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/rep-gregorys-inaugural-legislation-helps-washington-teachers-learn-new-specialties/
http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/rep-gregorys-inaugural-legislation-helps-washington-teachers-learn-new-specialties/#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 23:50:07 +0000Washington House Democratshttp://housedemocrats.wa.gov/?p=14991OLYMPIA – It’s no surprise that state Rep. Carol Gregory’s first bill to receive approval by the full House is one geared to put teachers with new skills in Washington classrooms. Gregory (D-30th District, Federal Way) is a former teacher herself, and was president of the Federal Way School Board when she was appointed early this year to replace the late Rep. Roger Freeman in the House.

“Stick with what you know” is almost always good advice, and Gregory knew coming in that Washington needs more teachers who are qualified to teach computer science, environmental sustainability, English as a second language, and bilingual and special education. Her HB 1570, which passed out of the House Monday afternoon with a 70-to-27 majority, adds those fields to the list of specialties that currently allow teachers to apply to the Retooling to Teach Mathematics and Sciences Conditional Scholarship Program.

Gregory’s bill changes the name of the existing program to the Educator Retooling Conditional Scholarship Program. Formerly open only to teachers seeking endorsements in math or science, the program will now offer potential scholarship loans of up to $3,000 a year for the above areas as well.

“Unlike other loans,” Gregory explained, “we hope teachers won’t be paying them back in cash. We’ll forgive one year of the loan for every two years that these teachers work in a Washington K-12 classroom to educate our kids. It’s a small but smart investment that we’ll profit from every time a student learns another skill that will help them take their place in Washington’s 21st-century economy.”

Under the terms of HB 1570, which now heads to the Senate for consideration, preference for the scholarship loans is given to applicants who are veterans or National Guard members, or who are assigned to schools where students are most in need of teachers who can teach in the qualifying fields.

Statement from Rep. Judy Clibborn on the Senate Transportation Package

House Transportation Chair Judy Clibborn (D-Mercer Island) has issued the following statement in response to the Senate’s passage of a transportation revenue package:

“I am excited that negotiations can resume in earnest now that the Senate has passed their transportation revenue package proposal. It is a significant step forward that has been two years in the making, and I commend them for acknowledging the critical need to address traffic congestion and our crumbling infrastructure.

There are a number of things to like in the Senate’s proposal, but there is plenty of work to be done before such a package could pass the House. We look forward to engaging with the Senate, the Governor and other stakeholders over the coming weeks as we seek solutions not only to transportation funding, but also our paramount duty to fund education.”